St. James' Church in Medjugorje
Editor's Note
Thank you for taking the time to read this series on Catholic devotion.
The idea for these articles evolved from conversations I have had over the years with friends, neighbors, and fellow Christians from diverse backgrounds. Again and again, I discovered that many sincere people have questions about what Catholics believe regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary, the saints, sacred images, and sacramentals.
Some have been told that Catholics worship Mary or the saints, or that Catholics pray to statues. Others simply wonder why Catholics have such a rich devotional life.
These questions deserve thoughtful and respectful answers.
The purpose of this series is not to criticize or challenge the faith of anyone from another Christian tradition. Nor is it intended to "win" theological debates. Rather, I hope to explain, as accurately and faithfully as possible, what the Roman Catholic Church actually teaches.
Throughout these articles, I have drawn upon Sacred Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the Church's long history of reflection on these topics.
As Catholics, we believe that every authentic devotion ultimately leads us to Jesus Christ. The Blessed Virgin Mary points us to her Son. The saints encourage us by their example. Sacred images remind us of the great mysteries of our faith. Sacramentals help dispose our hearts to receive God's grace. None of these replaces Christ or competes with Him. Instead, they help us grow closer to the One who is "the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).
If you are Catholic, I hope this series deepens your appreciation for the rich spiritual heritage of the Church and strengthens your confidence in explaining your faith with charity and humility.
If you belong to another Christian community, or if you are simply curious about Catholicism, I hope these pages offer a clearer understanding of what Catholics truly believe. Even where we may differ, I pray that greater understanding will foster greater respect and more fruitful dialogue.
As you read these articles, I encourage you to open your Bible, read the Scripture passages for yourself, and compare them with the teachings of the Catholic Church. I sincerely hope that these reflections will encourage all of us to seek the truth with open minds, humble hearts, and a deeper love for Jesus Christ.
Thank you for joining me on this journey.
May God bless you, guide you, and draw you ever closer to His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As a lifelong Roman Catholic, I have come to appreciate the beauty and depth of the Church's devotional life.
My hope in sharing this series is simply to explain these treasured beliefs clearly, respectfully, and faithfully, so that readers (Catholic and non-Catholic alike) may better understand the faith that has guided Christians for two thousand years.
Ken K. Pantin
Table of Contents
Perhaps no teaching of the Roman Catholic Church is more frequently misunderstood than its devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints.
Many sincere Christians (and even some Catholics) have heard claims that Catholics "worship Mary," "pray to the saints instead of God," or place Mary on the same level as Jesus Christ.
These misconceptions have existed for centuries. They often arise from observing Catholic practices without a thorough understanding of the theology behind them.
Seeing a Catholic kneel before a statue of Mary, pray the Rosary, or ask a saint for prayers can lead someone unfamiliar with Catholic teaching to conclude that Catholics are offering worship to someone other than God.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Catholic Church has consistently taught, from the earliest centuries of Christianity to the present day, that God alone is worthy of worship. Every authentic devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints ultimately points believers toward Jesus Christ, never away from Him.
In this first article of our series, we will examine what the Church actually teaches about worship, honor, and the Communion of Saints.
We will also explore the biblical foundations of these teachings and show why Catholics ask the saints to pray for them while worshiping God alone.
Introduction
The first principle of Catholic theology is both simple and absolute:
Only God is worshipped.
The First Commandment declares:
"You shall have no other gods before Me."
(Exodus 20:3)
Jesus Himself reaffirmed this commandment when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness:
"You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve."
(Matthew 4:10)
Catholics believe the same.
God the Father...
God the Son...
God the Holy Spirit...
These three Divine Persons are the one true God.
No saint...
No angel...
Not even the Blessed Virgin Mary...
receives the worship that belongs to God alone.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
"The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship. The Church rightly honors 'the Blessed Virgin with special devotion.' This very special devotion differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 971)
Notice the Church's careful wording.
Mary is honored.
God is adored.
These are not the same thing.
Worship Belongs to God Alone
One of the greatest sources of misunderstanding is the assumption that every outward sign of respect constitutes worship.
Scripture clearly demonstrates otherwise.
The Fourth Commandment instructs us:
"Honor your father and your mother."
(Exodus 20:12)
No Christian believes honoring parents means worshipping them.
Likewise, Saint Paul teaches:
"Outdo one another in showing honor."
(Romans 12:10)
We honor judges.
We honor military veterans.
We honor teachers.
We honor heroes.
Honor acknowledges God's work in another person.
Worship acknowledges God's divine nature.
The difference is profound.
Honor Is Not Worship
Three Important Words Every Catholic Should Know
Catholic theology uses three ancient terms to distinguish different kinds of honor.
Latria refers to the adoration and worship due to God alone.
This worship belongs only to the Holy Trinity.
It is offered especially in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, where Catholics worship the Father through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.
Nothing else receives latria.
Dulia means honor or veneration given to the saints.
Catholics honor the saints because they are examples of faithful discipleship.
The saints are admired for what God accomplished through their lives.
Their holiness reflects God's grace, not their own independent power.
The Blessed Virgin Mary receives a unique honor called hyperdulia.
This is greater than the honor given to other saints because of Mary's singular role in salvation history.
She is:
Mother of Jesus Christ
Mother of the Church
The New Eve
The first and greatest disciple of Christ
Yet Mary remains entirely human.
She is not divine.
She is not part of the Trinity.
She is not worshipped.
Her greatness comes entirely from God's grace.
As Mary herself proclaimed:
"My soul magnifies the Lord... for He who is mighty has done great things for me."
(Luke 1:46–49)
Mary points away from herself and toward God.
Why Is Mary So Highly Honored?
Many Christians ask why Catholics speak so often about Mary.
The answer begins with Jesus Himself.
The angel Gabriel greeted Mary:
"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you."
(Luke 1:28)
Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, declared:
"Blessed are you among women."
(Luke 1:42)
Mary then made a remarkable prophecy:
"From now on all generations will call me blessed."
(Luke 1:48)
Catholics believe they are fulfilling this biblical prophecy.
To call Mary "blessed" is not to worship her.
It is to repeat the words inspired by the Holy Spirit in Sacred Scripture.
Mary Always Leads Us to Jesus
One of the most beautiful features of Marian devotion is that Mary never draws attention to herself.
At the Wedding at Cana, Mary's final recorded words in Scripture are:
"Do whatever He tells you."
(John 2:5)
Those words summarize authentic Catholic devotion.
Mary never says:
"Look at me."
She says:
"Look to Jesus."
Every approved Marian apparition throughout Church history has echoed this same message:
Pray.
Repent.
Believe the Gospel.
Receive the Eucharist.
Follow Christ.
Authentic Marian devotion always leads to deeper discipleship.
Why Do Catholics Ask Mary and the Saints to Pray for Them?
This is perhaps the most misunderstood Catholic practice.
Imagine asking a close friend:
"Would you pray for me?"
Most Christians do this regularly.
Why?
Because Scripture teaches us:
"Pray for one another."
(James 5:16)
Catholics simply believe that death does not separate believers from Christ.
Jesus taught:
"He is not God of the dead, but of the living."
(Mark 12:27)
The saints are alive in Christ.
Saint Paul writes:
"Neither death nor life... will be able to separate us from the love of God."
(Romans 8:38–39)
If Christians on earth can pray for one another...
Why couldn't Christians already in Heaven pray for us?
The Catholic answer is simple:
They can.
The Communion of Saints
The Apostles' Creed professes belief in:
"The Communion of Saints."
This means the Church consists of three closely united realities:
The Church Militant: believers on earth.
The Church Suffering: souls being purified.
The Church Triumphant: the saints in Heaven.
All belong to the same Body of Christ.
Saint Paul teaches:
"If one member suffers, all suffer together."
(1 Corinthians 12:26)
The members of Christ's Body remain united in love.
Prayer is one expression of that unity.
Does Asking Saints to Pray Diminish Christ's Role?
Some object that Jesus is the "one mediator."
Scripture says:
"There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
(1 Timothy 2:5)
Catholics wholeheartedly agree.
Jesus alone reconciles humanity with the Father through His death and Resurrection.
No saint can redeem us.
No saint can forgive sins.
No saint can replace Christ.
Yet Scripture also encourages Christians to intercede for one another:
"I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions... be made for everyone."
(1 Timothy 2:1)
When Catholics ask Mary or another saint to pray for them, they are requesting intercessory prayer, not a second mediator of redemption.
Christ remains the sole Mediator of salvation.
The saints participate in His work through prayer, just as Christians on earth do.
Mary's Role at the Foot of the Cross
Mary's unique place in Catholic devotion reaches its climax beneath the Cross.
Jesus says:
"Woman, behold your son."
Then to John:
"Behold your mother."
(John 19:26–27)
Catholics have long understood John's role as representing every disciple.
Mary becomes a spiritual mother to all who follow Christ.
A loving mother always leads her children to her Son.
What the Early Christians Believed
Long before divisions arose within Christianity, the early Church honored Mary.
One of the oldest surviving Marian prayers dates to approximately A.D. 250:
"We fly to thy protection, O Holy Mother of God..."
This prayer demonstrates that Christians sought Mary's intercession centuries before the New Testament canon was formally recognized.
Likewise, early Christian writers such as St. Irenaeus, St. Ephrem the Syrian, St. Ambrose, and St. Augustine spoke of Mary with profound reverence while maintaining that worship belongs to God alone.
This continuity reminds us that Marian devotion is not a medieval invention but a longstanding part of Christian tradition.
Common Misunderstandings
"Catholics worship Mary."
False.
Catholics worship only the Triune God.
"Catholics believe Mary is equal to God."
False.
Mary is entirely human and receives all her dignity through God's grace.
"Catholics pray more to Mary than to Jesus."
Some Catholics have strong Marian devotion, but authentic Catholic teaching insists that every Marian prayer ultimately directs believers toward Christ.
"Catholics have replaced Jesus with Mary."
Absolutely not.
Jesus Christ is the center of Catholic worship, the source of salvation, and the heart of every sacrament.
Mary's mission is to bring people to Him.
Conclusion
The Catholic Church has never taught that Mary is a goddess, a fourth Person of the Trinity, or an object of worship. On the contrary, it has consistently proclaimed that worship belongs to God alone.
The honor given to the Blessed Virgin Mary arises not from her own power but from the extraordinary grace God bestowed upon her as the Mother of His Son.
When Catholics ask Mary or the saints to pray for them, they are expressing the biblical reality of the Communion of Saints: a family united in Christ across heaven and earth.
Just as Christians ask one another for prayers in this life, Catholics believe they may also seek the prayers of those who now live in the fullness of God's presence.
Mary's role has always been to lead others to Jesus. Her words at Cana remain the guiding principle of authentic Catholic devotion: "Do whatever He tells you" (John 2:5). Whenever Marian devotion is genuine, it never ends with Mary; it always leads to her Son.
In Part II of this series, we will examine another common misconception: Do Catholics pray to statues?
We will explore the biblical foundations for sacred images, the purpose of statues and icons, the role of sacramentals, and why the Church teaches that these visible signs help direct the heart and mind toward God rather than becoming objects of worship themselves.
Scripture References
Exodus 20:3
Exodus 20:12
Matthew 4:10
Luke 1:28
Luke 1:42–49
John 2:5
John 19:26–27
Mark 12:27
Romans 8:38–39
Romans 12:10
1 Corinthians 12:26
1 Timothy 2:1–5
James 5:16
Catechism of the Catholic Church
CCC 956 – The intercession of the saints
CCC 957 – Communion with the saints
CCC 958 – Communion with the faithful departed
CCC 971 – Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Suggested Further Reading
Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§946–975
Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, Chapter VIII ("The Blessed Virgin Mary")
St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary
Pope St. John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater
info@laudisestore.com
Subscribe
Connect with Us
Disclaimer: No content on this site, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Copyright © 2026 Laudisestore.com. All Rights Reserved.
Visit The Quiet Corner (our online chapel)